Kenya Planning On Track For Rio Olympics; No Zika Boycott

Nations are discussing options ahead of the Olympics. “Female professional athletes already face many different considerations and have to make choices that male professional athletes don’t”. However, a causal link has not been proven. Pregnant women have been urged to avoid travel to affected areas.

Ten of the 29 babies observed had irregularities in one or both eyes, and about 80% of the mothers reported Zika-like symptoms during their pregnancy.

Jackson Tuwei, the Athletics Kenya President, said they would first seek the advice of the health authorities and the government before making a decision.

But he says even despite concerns about a pandemic, there is little to worry about in Western Washington.

Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes the birth defect microcephaly.

Instead, officials expressed optimism that risk would be minimized by close cooperation among health agencies, mosquito control efforts and the Games’ timing during Brazil’s winter when mosquito-borne illnesses are less common.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo said in an interview with Sports Illustrated published Tuesday that she was concerned about the virus.

“Competing in the Olympics should be a safe environment for every athlete, male and female alike”.

Kenya could pull out of this year’s Olympics in Rio due to concerns over the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, the head of Kenya’s Olympics committee has revealed.

“Any team members who are pregnant at the time of the Games need to consider the risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with travel to Brazil”, they said. The IOC has distributed the guidance to all national Olympic committees.

In this new study, the eyes of 29 infants with microcephaly were evaluated.

Barbados confirmed three cases of Zika in pregnant women, bringing to seven the number of people on the Caribbean island with the virus, which is believed to be linked to birth defects. While it is predominantly transmitted by mosquito, researchers are studying the possibility of infection through blood and sexual contact.

“WHO is now mapping existing R&D [research and development] for Zika in order to prioritise medical products and approaches that should be fast-tracked into development”.

“First, we get regular updates from Rio organizers and the International Olympic Committee on the situation in Brazil”, Soi said.

The USOC has not issued its own set of recommendations for athletes and staff beyond what the CDC and World Health Organization have issued.

Olympic Sports Confederation spokesman Michael Schirp said: “The brochure we sent ends fittingly with the phrase that there is no need for panic”.